Rotary card file rings

ABSTRACT

The rings of a rotary card file serve to impale a group of cards which are slidable along the rings. In the present improvement each ring has a gap for the insertion or removal of cards; and a closely-wound spring forms a closer for the gap. One end of the ring is plain for fitting one end of the closer thereon, while the other end of the ring is made with an inward bend leading to a stop in the central region of the ring. The other end of the closer has an eye freely impaled on the inward bend, permitting the closer to swing down to pendent position when its firstmentioned end has been drawn off the plain end of the ring. This creates the gap; and the closer can then be pushed back along the inward bend toward the stop to hang out of the way.

[4 1 Feb. 12, 1974 ROTARY CARD FILE RINGS [76] Inventor: Aaron H. Shneider, 2835 N.

Western Ave., Chicago, 111. 60618 [22] Filed: July 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 275,712

[52] US. Cl 40/72, 40/102, 24/239 [51] Int. Cl. G091 11/00 [58] Field of Search. 40/68, 68.6, 72, 74, 78, 78.07, 40/l04.l7, 104.18, 104.19, 102, 124;

695,444 9/1965 Italy 24/239 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolfe [5 7] ABSTRACT The rings of a rotary card file serve to impale a group of cards which are slidable along the rings. In the present improvement each ring has a gap for the insertion or removal of cards; and a closely-wound spring forms a closer for the gap. One end of the ring is plain for fitting one end of the closer thereon, while the other end of the ring is made with an inward bend leading to a stop in the central region of the ring. The other end of the closer has an eye freely impaled on the inward bend, permitting the closer to swing down to pendent position when its first-mentioned end has been drawn off the plain end of the ring. This creates the gap; and the closer can then be pushed back along the inward bend toward the stop to hang out of the way.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures ROTARY CARD FILE RINGS This invention relates to rotary card files in which a group of record or picture cards is centered on a spindle, and the latter rotated for the selection or viewing of the cards in the group. The cards are slidable along rings carried by the spindle. One form of rotary card file is known as the carousel type, in which the spindle is vertical with a knob at the top; and the card group rotates in a horizontal plane when the knob is turned. Card files known as the roto-type have the spindle in horizontal position and are operable to rotate the card group in a vertical plane. In either case the group of cards surrounds the spindle; and the cards have perforations near the inner ends for threading them on the rings, so that they are slidable along the same like the leaves of a loose-leaf binder.

The present invention deals with the form of the rings, the means for attaching them to the spindle, and a closer which bridges the gap in each ring by way of which cards are mounted on or removed from the ring; and one object of the invention is to provide a closer which is easy to open and affords a clear passage for cards being mounted on or removed from the rings in the card file.

A further object is to provide a closer which needs no handling after it has been opened, and allows freedom to both hands for inserting, training or removing one or more cards from the ring.

A still further object is to design each ring and closer in a manner permitting the closer to be opened at one end and adjusted from the other to clear both the gap in the ring and the inner ends of cards which are carried by it, as well as cards being mounted on or removed from the ring.

, Another object is to design the closer, in one piece and in permanently connected relation to the ring.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which;

FIG. I is a perspective view of a carousel-type rotary card file, showing the improved form of ring and closer;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ring and closer on a larger scale, full lines showing the closer as a continuous part of the ring, and dotted lines when the closer has beendrawn open;

FIG. 3is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the closer in a remote, out-of-the-way position after it has been opened; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a ring positioned in a vertical plane, as in a roto-type card file, with the closer positioned as in FIG.3.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes a conventional carousel-type card file, its vertical spindle being shown at 11 and the knob for turning the same at 12. Usually, this type of card file has upper and lower horizontal rings 13 on which a surrounding card group 14, made with holes 14a near the inner ends, is threaded on the rings as shown in FIG. 1.

The improved ring is shown more clearly in FIG. 2, and is circular for the most part. However, a gap in the ring is necessary for the insertion and removal of cards, and is formed from one side by terminating one endportion with a short bend 13b, which is straight. In spaced relation to the bend 13b the other end portion of the ring takes a sharp, longer inward bend 13c which terminates with a hook 13d. The latter is wrapped into welded engagement with the spindle 11 to maintain the ring in a plane crosswise of the spindle.

FIG. 1 shows the closers for the rings as a pair of closely-wound coil springs 15, these bridging the gaps in the rings and permitting the cards to slide over the closers. Full lines in FIG. 2 show the form of the closer more clearly in the position of use. Thus, its right-hand portion is frictionally fitted on the ring bend 13b. However, its other end-portion is extended with an eye 15a which closely encircles the longer bend 13c just inwardly of its corner 13e which serves as a stop against the departure of the closer from the corner along the ring. The eye 15a is dimensioned to be slidable inwardly along the bend 13c as far as the hook 13d, but not to surmount the corner 132 on the return and be slidable around the ring.

When the gap in the ring is to be created for the inscrtion or removal of cards, the closer 15 is drawn off the bend 13b. When released it will swing down and hang loose/It may now be pushed inwardly as far as the hook 13d to the suspended position shown in FIG. 3. Now the ring gap is left clear for the mounting of cards on the rings, or removal of cards therefrom by way of the short bends 13b. Then, when the rings are to be closed, each closer is drawn to hang from the ring corner l3e, and then arched as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2 for application to the bend 13b. Finger pressure will mount and advance the free end of the closer on the bend to fit the same as indicated by full lines in the same figure.

It is now apparent that the improved ring and closer are designed with novel formations which co-operate to lend the card file special advantages. One is that only one hand need be. used to handle the closers, either to open or close the rings, leaving the other hand free to handle the cards. Further, when the closer is in the remote position as in FIG. 3 it is far from the zone where cards are passed. Therefore, both hands may be used to handle the cards. Further, the closer is permanently impaled between limits on the ring bend 13c, and cannot become detached or make its way around the ring to slide off. Further, the closer can also assume its remote, out-of-the-way position when located in a roto-type card file, where the spindle is horizontal, as seen in FIG. 4. Finally, no parts are added to the ring or closer in order to combine or'function in the manner described. I

I claim:

1. In a rotary card file, at least one card-mounting ring attached to a spindle, said card file having apertured cards slidable along the periphery of said ring, the ring having a substantially circular periphery which is interrupted in one portion to form a gap for the insertion and removal of said cards, one end of said ring at said gap having a radially directed, inward bend extending from said periphery with means on the innermost end of said bend extension for central attachment of the ring substantially perpendicular to the said spindle of said file, said bend extension forming a corner with said periphery, the other end of said ring at said gap extending from said circular periphery toward said bend as a short, straight segment in opposing, spaced relationship with said bend to form said gap, said ring further having a flexible closure slidably mounted at one end thereof for movement along said bend, extension the other end of said closure being removably seof said spring being interiorly dimensioned to be frictionally fitted over the end portion of said straight segment in gripping engagement therewith to close said gap whereby when said spring closure is grippingly engaging said straight segment to form a closed periphery, the said cards may be slidably moved along the periphery of said ring over the said closure. 

1. In a rotary card file, at least one card-mounting ring attached to a spindle, said card file having apertured cards slidable along the periphery of said ring, the ring having a substantially circular periphery which is interrupted in one portion to form a gap for the insertion and removal of said cards, one end of said ring at said gap having a radially directed, inward bend extending from said periphery with means on the innermost end of said bend extension for central attachment of the ring substantially perpendicular to the said spindle of said file, said bend extension forming a corner with said periphery, the other end of said ring at said gap extending from said circular periphery toward said bend as a short, straight segment in opposing, spaced relationship with said bend to form said gap, said ring further having a flexible closure slidably mounted at one end thereof for movement along said bend, extension the other end of said closure being removably securable in engagement with the end portion of said straight segment to close or open said gap, said closure being a closely-wound coil spring with an eye formed at said one end which eye is pivotally mounted on said extension to allow the closure to become suspended therefrom when said gap is open, said eye being interiorly dimensioned to be matingly slidable along said extension but not to surmount said corner, the other end of said spring being interiorly dimensioned to be frictionally fitted over the end portion of said straight segment in gripping engagement therewith to close said gap whereby when said spring closure is grippingly engaging said straight segment to form a closed periphery, the said cards may be slidably moved along the periphery of said ring over the said closure. 